For example, Karen from Virginia contracted the coronavirus last week and was prescribed Paxlobid. However, the pharmacy told her that she would have to pay the list price of $1,400.
Fortunately, she had just read an AARP article explaining that Medicare patients should be able to get Paxrovid for free. “You will need to fill out information through the Pfizer Patient Support Program,” she told me. “I didn't know this, and I don't think many of my readers either.”
In fact, I didn't know about this program, so I went to a senior official at the Department of Health and Human Services for clarification. Last November, Paxlovid moved to the commercial market. Previously, the federal government purchased the drug and gave it away for free. It is now dispensed and billed like any other drug.
The Biden administration is working closely with drug manufacturer Pfizer to ensure patients do not have access to this lifesaving treatment. This official made it clear to me that Paxthrovid should be available for free to anyone on Medicare, Medicaid, or without insurance.
You must enroll in the Patient Assistance Program by visiting paxlovid.iassist.com. You can also register by calling 877-219-7225. People on Medicare, Medicaid, or those who are uninsured should be able to get Paxrovid for free at pharmacies or by mail. Those with private insurance may be charged a co-pay, which can be reduced through patient access programs.
David from Maryland also recently contracted the coronavirus. But when he called his local Harris Teeter pharmacy to make sure his prescription was filled, he said he was told Paxlobid was not covered and he would have to pay $1,400 for a five-day supply. . He called another pharmacy, his CVS, and was told there would be no charge this time. “It filled up in two hours,” he wrote.
I pitched this scenario to federal health officials, who provided some clarification. First, millions of doses of Paxthrovid purchased by the federal government are still stored in various pharmacies across the United States. His second pharmacy that David went to had it in stock and may have been given it for free.
Additionally, some pharmacies are out of network for certain insurance plans. If one pharmacy gives you a list price for a drug, it's worth calling other pharmacies to see if the drug is available for free or at a significantly reduced price.
“There's no one in America who would have to pay $1,400 for this product,” an official told me.
This is just one barrier to accessing Paxlovid. Other readers had trouble convincing their doctors that it was necessary.
Ben, from Massachusetts, wrote that his mother is in a nursing home and “has (literally) every possible risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection.” She coughed and lost her sense of taste. She asked to use Paxlobid if her test result was positive, but she was told that she was not using Paxlobid “because of all the side effects.”
Similarly, when Washington resident Mark and his wife, both over 65, contracted the coronavirus last June, she was vaccinated with Paxlobid, but he was not. “My doctor did not prescribe Paxlobid because I was also taking a low dose of a statin drug. I was not given the option to temporarily stop it. [taking] Simvastatin. My wife tested negative for coronavirus after completing five days of treatment. Her mood was much better and she was only a little tired. For several days she had a fever of 103 degrees, severe joint pain, a cough, and a headache. This went on for over two weeks, but it wasn't until the 18th day that she tested negative for coronavirus. ”
Mark then consulted a doctor, who said he was “just playing it safe.” But in his view, “it wasn't safe.” do not have This is to prescribe Paxrobid. ”
Mark is correct. More education is needed for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care professionals about the benefit-risk tradeoffs of paxlobid. Side effects are minor compared to the prospect of severe illness from the coronavirus, and most drug interactions are manageable.
Readers were also frustrated by health care providers' reluctance to give drugs “just in case.” One of those readers is Paul Newhouse, a psychiatrist and director of the Vanderbilt Center for Cognitive Medicine in Nashville.
“I am a physician and scientist who survived a hematologic malignancy,” he wrote. “However, when I visited Poland last summer for an academic conference, I was unable to get my geriatrician to prescribe me prophylactic paxlobid in case I contracted the coronavirus.” , told me that their “policy” prohibits this type of medication. However, I remember many years ago when I traveled to Thailand and was prescribed antibiotics. (I actually got sick that time, so I'm glad I got antibiotics.) It's very surprising that doctors are so reluctant to prescribe paxlobid, even for high-risk patients like me. It's infuriating. ”
Agree. Doctors routinely prescribe albuterol inhalers in case your asthma suddenly worsens. And when people visit certain international locations, they often carry a prescription for antibiotics in case they develop severe traveler's diarrhea. Paxrovid should be no exception. This drug, like albuterol and antibiotics, is fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration. There is no shortage of Paxrobid and there is no legal or ethical reason to deny anyone this “just in case” prescription.
It is a travesty that only one in six people at high risk of severe coronavirus infection has been prescribed this life-saving drug. This situation has to change. We appreciate the efforts of our readers to educate and provide for each other.
Have you taken advantage of the new Paxlovid patient access program? Are there any other issues you have faced receiving antiviral treatment for covid-19? please write to mewe will endeavor to include your comment in a future edition of The Checkup.